Grammys 2014: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Royals for a Night

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the Seattle duo that has spent the last year upending the rules about how hip-hop interacts with mainstream pop, won four Grammys on Sunday night, for best new artist and in three rap categories: best performance and best song for Thrift Shop and best album for The Heist.

Of all the moments that have startled awards-show viewers over the years, none matches the mass marriage on Sunday night’s Grammys. No others made anything close to this bold a statement on an issue that has been engaging so much of the world in an emotional, political and theological debate. By including same-gender couples in this ceremony, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences declared that marriage is marriage, regardless of gender.

The night’s most cathartic moment was the group marriage: Queen Latifah married 33 straight and same-sex couples during a performance of Same Love by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, along with singers Mary Lambert and iconic pop-star Madonna.

A full list of winners at the 56th annual Grammy Awards can be found in The New York Timeshere.

Honoring an Icon: Jennifer Hudson Pays Homage to Whitney Houston

Jennifer Hudson honored Whitney Houston’s life with an amazing tribute at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Hudson took the stage at last night’s 54th Annual Grammy Awards to sing an a cappella version of Whitney Houston’s hit I Will Always Love You. A lone spotlight beamed down on the Grammy and Academy Award winning American Idol alum after the artists and music industry executives who have passed away in the last year were paid their respects in a video montage. Thunderous applause rang through the audience before the room went dark and Hudson’s first clear, strong notes rang out.

She sang what could be considered Whitney Houston’s most famous hit, written by Dolly Parton for the soundtrack of The Bodyguard. Hudson’s rendition of the song was above and beyond perfect, as if she was channeling the recently deceased singer herself. Her version was an exact replica of Houston’s own performance at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards twenty years ago. Throughout the song, Hudson appeared to be blinking back tears, and when she finished, she finally caved in to her overwhelming emotion. The audience went wild.

Jennifer Hudson Shines at the 2009 Grammy Awards!!

A tearful Jennifer Hudson won her first Grammy, for the best R&B Album of the Year, thanking her family “in heaven and those who are with me today.” Hudson made no direct reference to the killings of her mother, brother and nephew that had kept her in seclusion until just this month. But while fighting back tears, she made it clear that her family was foremost on her mind. Hudson later performed You Pulled Me Through, a typically strong vocal performance; as she sang the last note, she looked directly into the camera and dissolved into tears .

Jennifer Hudson’s self-titled debut album was a 2009 Grammy nominee for R&B Album of the Year, while her song Spotlight was in the running for the Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. In addition, Hudson shared a nomination for the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for her duet with Fantasia on I’m His Only Woman.

“It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing. I’m extremely honored and humbled by the nominations,” Hudson had said in a statement released by Arista Records earlier.